Band applying mechanism



NOV. 24, Q E, GAMPP BAND APPLYING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July24, 1948 Nov. 24, 1953 G. E. GAMPP BAND APPLYING MECHANISM 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1948 JNVENTOR.

' GEORGE E. GAMPP JMJJ',

@Harney Nov. 24, 1953 G, E, GAMPP n 2,660,353

BAND APPLYING MECHANISM Filed July 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN1/Emol@GEORGE E. GAMPP f 0 Nov. 24, 1953 Filed July 24.

6 Sheets-SheetI 4 I I 256 @im I f2@ i 1| 240 l l I :244- i l 248 f 242 u"i 246 'l q 248 /L' 4 T-) l l 250 8 INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. GAMPP BY J- $414.

Nov. 24, 1953 G. EGAMPP BAND APPLYING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJuly 24, 1948 INVENOR. GEORGE E. GAMPP BY l.

Jau/Ab 'J'za/ Nov. 24, 1953 G. E. GAMPP BAND APPLYING MECHANISM V' 6Sheets-Sheet 6- Filed July 24, 1948 1| P P m bm Q MM JM M NWN N\Q\ @VxQW\ c W H I- L mi m w bmx D@ l EQ QQ d W Patented Nov. 24, 1953 BANDAPPLYING MECHANISM George E. Gampp, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to AmericanMachine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application July24, 1948, Serial No. 40,532

12 Claims.

This invention relates to band applying machines, more particularly tomechanism for applying a flexible band over the neck of a container.

One of the main objects of the invention is to more positively andaccurately place the band over the neck of the container.

Still another object of the invention is to mechanically grip one end ofthe band and thereby strip it from members whereon the band is partiallyexpanded, and apply the band to the neck of a bottle whereby slippage ofthe band during stripping and application to the bottle neck will beavoided.

These and other objects not specifically mentioned may be obtained bythe construction which will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a machine upon which aplurality of carriers, each having sleeve applying means of thisinvention incorporated therein, are operatively supported for applyingsleeves to bottles;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a cam trackembodied in the machine of Fig. 1 as seen from the opposite sidethereof;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a portion o'f the machine on line 4-4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, transverse vertical section of one of thesleeve carriers;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof on line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the lower portion of one of the sleevecarriers;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view thereof, taken approximately on line 8-8of Fig. '7;

Fig. 8a is a fragmentary, rear elevation illlustrating part of themechanism seen in Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the lower end of a sleevecarrier illustrating the sleeve engaging and applying means prior to anoperation in which the sleeve is engagedr thereby for movement toposition a sleeve upon the neck of a bottle;

Fig. 9a is a horizontal section thereof on line srt-9a, Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a similar view, illustrating an intermediate step in themovements of the parts in applying a sleeve to a bottle;

Fig. 10a is a horizontal section thereof on line lua-Illa of Fig. 10;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the partsof Figs. 9 and 10 in the position in which a sleeve has been gripped ina manner for application of the sleeve to a bottle neck;

Fig. 11a is a horizontal section thereof on line IIa-ilafof Fig. 11;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 9-11 in which the sleeve engagingparts have been moved to the position in which a sleeve has been openedto circular form directly over a bottle neck;

. Fig. 12a is a horizontal section thereof on line 12alia of Fig. 12;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional elevation of the parts illustrated inFig. 12, wherein those parts have been moved to position the sleeveaboutl the bottle neck;

Fig. 13a is a horizontal section thereof on line i3d-i3d. of Fig. 13.

It will be observed that Fig. 1 of the present application correspondsessentially to a `portion of Fig. 8 of the copending application of H.G. Allen et al., s. N. 738,470, filed March 31, 1947, for Band ApplyingMachine. Likewise Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 61 thereof, and Fig. 4corresponds to Fig. 64 in that application.

In Fig. 1 the bottles or other containers B, to the necks of whichsleeves are to be applied, may be advanced continuously in the directionof the arrow in spaced relation by a conveyor 20 having a horizontal runtravelling along the top of the conveyor frame 22. The bottles B may bespaced apart on run 22 by suitable movable elements 24 corresponding tohold-back fingers Ill and |12 ofA the above mentioned application adistance apart corresponding to the distance apart of a plurality ofsleeve carrying elements or carriers C which travel in an endless pathabout the machine. Further description of the conveyor 2D and elements24 is deemed unnecessary since the construction and operation thereof isfully disclosed in the above mentioned application. It may be noted,however, that conveyor 20 travels at a higher speed than the elements24, wherefore it slips on the bottoms of bottles B, thus urging theminstantly into engagementwith the elements 24.

The sleeves are applied to the carriers C in any suitable manner on theside of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. This operation isdescribed in detail in the aforesaid application and need not bedescribed herein. As illustrated in Fig. l, the upper and lower end ofeach carrier C is operatively secured to upper and lower sprocket chains26 and 28 which travel about sprockets 30 mounted on vertical shafts 32i2 in the embodiment of the invention illus-H trated, includes a pair ofparallel spaced upright Y rods or supports dil to the upper ends of eachpair of which is secured a member |32; operatively attached to the uppersprocket chain 26. lower ends of the rods lo have secured theretosupporting members M by which they are attached to the lower sprocketchain 28. Below TheVA the members 32 on each pair of rods d0 there issecured thereto a bracket 48 supporting a roller Eil, Fig. l. Eachpaiiuofrods is also supports a vertically movable slide v52 at the rearof which is mounted a rollerifl,v Fig. l. Between movable element 52andbracket i8 andsurrounding one of the rods itis a coil spring the useof which will be hereinafter explained.

Each sleeve carrier C (see Eigs. 5 and?) yis provided with a pair -ofpendant lingers 6o. The front or `outer linger .5B is secured to thelower end of a connector vor adaptor 62 which may be secured at itsupperend .to .a pendant arm 'ad which is pivotally mounted on a Stud $5journalled in spaced outer and-inner .bearing portions @3 and l0 of the.memberd before mentioned. The inner. or rear finger 6B, is fastened toan adaptor 'i2 secured to another pendant supportingarm le which, likethe arm .64., =is similarly pivoted on another stud Si supportedbybearing portion 'i8 and another outer bearing portion E8 of the member@5. The arms Maand 'l2 are mounted on the two shafts 6.5, which arearranged in axial alignment, to simultaneously swing inwardly andoutwardly toward and away from each other. For controlling the in andVout movement of the fingers Si! the arms M .and 14 vare each providedwith a roller or .cam follower 16 mounted, to operatively engageoppositely inclined faces 18 of a tapered cam or wedge 8p fixed to thelower end of a rod 82 whichis slidablly mounted in member se and isfixed at its upper end to the slide 52 to reciprocate verticallyYtherewith. Contact be tween the rollers lo, andthe cam member 3E isassured by a tension spring Sel, Fig. 5, which at its opposite ends issuitably secured to adaptors $2 and l2. When the cam member '8o isvmoved upwardly thev fingers 6g are urged by the spring 34 towards eachothel. ,SQ that their inner faces are closely adjacent. It 4is in theforegoing position, which occurs only on the side of the machineopposite to that shown in 1Eig. l, that this action occurs. It is herethat the limp and partially Opened band or .sleeves D are slippedupwardly Onto the lower .ends of the collapsed .1ingers.

However. the Sleeves soul@ also be applied by hand. Automatic mechanism,similar to that described in the above mentioned application, causes thefingers to be spread apart by downward movement o f the cam SD to anextent suffi.-Y cient to cause the sleeves to be retained on thefingers.

The fingers 6G may be releasably locked in closed position during theapplication of a sleeve thereto by suitable mechanism illustrated inFig. 5. This mechanism includes the latch 8B pivoted at one end to theadaptor l2 and having adjustably secured in its free end a stop screw88. Intermediate its ends latch 8B has a notch 9D into which, in theclosed position of the fingers 6U a lug S2 on the lower end of arm (ismay seat. In actual practice the sleeve is applied to the fingers byupward movement of a pair of suction blocks or members (not shown)similar to thefsuction pads 5&2 of the above mentioned application. Atthe time when these blocks arrive at a position where it is desired toapply the sleeve to the ingers the upper end of one of said blocksstrikes stop screw88 thereby raising and releasing latch 86 from-lug 92.

It will be recalled that spring 55 surrounding one'of theca'rrier rodsle exerts downward pressureagainstthe -slide 52. Since rod 82 carryingcam is fixed to slide 52, the cam wedge 80 will be moved' downwardlythrough the action of spring 56 between rollers "iE to cause the fingersE@ -to be spread apartto engage and supportthe sleeve assoon as thelatch has been released.v The extentto-which the fingers-6o are openedduring the foregoing step of applying the Vsleeve' is controlled by theengagement of roller on each carrier C with the lupper edge of a hori`zontal cam bar -l-Q (see Fig. l). As soon as the carrier leaves the`sleeve applying station orzone the roller 5o travels to a lower portion|32 of camV bar 86 (Fig. l) where, through action of camwedge Sii, thefingers vGopen to a greater extent to draw the sleeve vtauter vandthereby retain it more securely onrtlie .ngers shown in Figs. 5, 9a andz11a. This position is such thatpartsof the sleeve gripping and applyingmechanism, which will bepresently described,` can move to positionsVbetween. the fingers S8 to effect the necessary sleeve ygrippingoperation.

A suitable embodiment of mechanism 'for gripping the lower edgeof abandD to remove it from the fingers ASil and applyit to the neck of abottle B willnow be described. .Referring to Figs. 9aand 10a of thedrawings, it will be noted that-thev of the fingers EB, assume asubstantially cyl-in drical form of a diameter at the lower section `ofthe sleeve which is somewhat-greater than the diameter of thelbottle-top to which it is being applied, as illustrated in'Figs. 13 and13a. Each sleeve gripping mechanism forms a part of a carrier C and ismounted on a slide |93 which-is reciprocable on the lower portions ofthe carrier rods 4a below part 44 (seeFigs. 7 and 8).

beyond the rods 40 there are provided a pair -of forwardlyextendingintegral bearing sleeves l2. In one of these sleeves is mounteda pivot stud ||4 whose forward endsup'ports -a pendant arm H6. In theother bearing'- sleeve ||2 is mounted a pivot stud |20 to the forwardend of which' is' clamped the upper end `of'a pendant arml |22. Thefront end of stud IM has rigidly fixed to it f a plate or clip |'24thelower end of which is bent rearwardly at |26, Fig.y 7, and through whichextends a bolt |28. One end of bolt t28 is threaded into a lug |30 onthe adjacent arm H6. Between part 12s of clip |24 and the iug |30 is 'acompresi In this positionthe fingers will approximate the locationthereof On portions of the slide HG projecting outwardlyv sion spring|32 acting to urge part |28 away from lug |30 whereby adjustment of armI I6 relatively to arm |22 may be effected by screwing thumb nut |29 onthe bolt |28 in or out and locking it in adjusted position by a cock nut|3|, see Fig. 7.

Referring again to arm II6 it will be noted that it is provided with anangular portion |36 projecting from the hub portion thereof andconstituting therewith a bell crank pivoted on stud I 4. Similarly armI2;2 has an angular extension |38 projecting from its hub portion andconstituting therewith a bell crank movable about stud |26. Attached tothe free ends of extensions |36 and |38 is an adjustable connecting rod|40. To the lower ends of arms ||6 and |22 are secured gripper blocks|44. The under face of each block is under cut and has fastened thereona sleeve engaging member |46. Each member |46 has an upstanding arcuateflange or section |48 the curvature of which approximates the curvatureor outside diameter of the top portion of a bottle to which a sleeve isto be applied. The bottles may be of various congurations and may eitherhave a cork within the neck or a cap surmounting the top. In atransverse direction the iianges |48 are of less width than the spacebetween a pair of opened lingers 6|) so as to be able to pass in betweenthose lingers, as shown in Fig. 10o..

As shown in Figs. 11a., 12a, 13, and 13a, each block |44 has formedtherein a longitudinal bore |50 in which is slidably mounted a plunger|52. The outer end of each plunger |52 has a head |54 which isreciprocable in a chamber |56 the outer end of which is closed by acircular diaphram or flexible member |58 held in position by a closureplate |66. Between the inner face of head |54 and a shoulder |62 formedin chamber |56 is arranged a coil spring |64 which surrounds the plungerand urges it outwardly so that its inner end will be disposed within thebore |56 or aligned with the adjacent wall of the block |44 as shown inFig. 13. Plungers |52 may be actuated by fluid pressure, such ascompressed air, to cause them to move inwardly or toward each other toengage and deect inwardly the intervening portions of the lower edge ofa sleeve extending between the lingers 60 and thereby clamp suchportions between the plunger ends and the outer faces of the grippingflanges |48 after said flanges have been moved upwardly into the sleeve,in a manner which will be hereinafter explained. Compressed air may beconducted into chamber |56 to deflect diaphragms |58 in any suitablemanner. For example, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings, the lower endsof a pair of flexible hoses |16 are connected to an inlet pipe |12secured in one of the closures |68 and communieating with a notch |14 inthe closure |68 to thereby conduct air to the outer faces of thediaphragms |58 in the area back of the plunger head |54. The opposite orupper end of each hose |16, see Figs. 1, and 6, connects with the endsof a transverse passage |16 in the part 44 which connects the carriagewith the lower chain |28. The passage |16 is in communication with anupright passage |18 which may, for example, be formed in one of theupright rods 40 and leads to the top of the rod. Here the passage isA incommunication with one end of a ilexible hose |80. The other end'of eachhose |86 is connected to duct I 82 formed in a rotary Valve head |84mounted at the top of the standard 36.

'I'he number of flexible members I 80 and ducts front side of cam track2I|l is provided with camA |82 corresponds to the number of carriers Cin the installation, and the rotary Valve head |84 is arranged toltravel at the same rate of speed as that of the carriages through theirconnection with the chains 26 and 28. Thus at each complete rotation ofa carriage about the machine its duct |82 passes into and out ofcommunication with a segmental part (not shown) in a stationary valve|86 underlying valve head |84, through which compressed air may bedelivered at an appropriate time and duration for actuating the plungers|52 t-o operatively engage a sleeve as stated. Since the construction ofthe stationary valve correspends to the structure of the stationaryvalve 6I6 of the aforesaid application, further description thereof isdeemed unnecessary except to state that compressed air is supplied tothe segmental part in member |86 by a supply pipe |88.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, there is mounted on the rods 48 of eachcarriage directly below the slide 52 thereof, another slide |98 on whichis supported a roller |32 which in the travel of the carriage about themachine engages with the upper face of a cam track designated generallyby the reference |84, see Fig. 2. As shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and3, and in broken lines in Fig. 1,'cam track |94 is provided on the sideof the machine opposite to that illustrated in Fig. l with a cut awayportion or notch 36. This track is also provided, as shown in detail infull-lines in Fig. 1, with an inclined cam section |38 at the lower endof which is a short horizontal section 266 followed by an oppositelyinclined section 282.

Sections |86, 286, and 282 may be supported on a` vertically adjustablesupport 284 for adjustment with respect to the main track portionr |94,to enable those sections to be shifted up and down to allow the sleevegripping mechanism t-o appropriatelg,1 function with bottles ofdifferent heights.

In order to enable the sleeve gripping mechanism to engage the sleeveson the fingers '66, stretch them to the form shown in Figs. 12a and 13a,lower the sleeves down upon and release them onthe bottle necks and theneffect the return of the gripping mechanism to normal position, thefollowing mechanism may be provided. A lower cam track structure (Figs.1 and 4) is designated generally at ZIB. At the rear of the machine asviewed in Fig. 4, cam track structure 2 I8 is provided with a horizontalsection 2 I 2 having inwardly curved end portions 2| 4 and 2|6. Thissection is iixed to the standard 36. Extending from the end 2|4 ofsection 2|2 is a track portion ZIS which is located slightly inward of"the track section 2|2. Part 2li! connects with a curved cam plate 223concentrically disposed about the adjacent shaft 32 and secured to thelower end of the bearing member 33. The other end of the bar 222 isconnected to a curved plate 224 similarly mounted about shaft 33 at theopposite end of the machine. As shown in Fig. 4 there is formed at theconnection between parts 222 and 224 a cam recess 226 for a purposewhich will be hereinafter explained. It will be seen in Figs. l and 4that the outer or track sections 228 and 236 formed of vertical platesections, the latter being at a somewhat greater distance from thestandard 36 than is the section 228. Sections 228 and 238 are con-'nected by a'somewhat abrupt incline 232 on one end of section 236. Theends of sections 228 and 236 overlap relatively short track sections 234and 236 which are secured to the adjacent cam plates 224 and 220. Thecam sections 228 and,

accosta:

Roller 240 is mounted at vthe free end of one rvarm 242 vof abell cranklever pivotally mounted one. shaft244 supported on one of the. sleeves||2.

vThe other arm` 245 ofthe bell crank has a pivotal connection ,248 withone. end of an adjustable connecting link 250. The other end of this,link

is similarly. connected at 252 to the lower end ci an arm 254 fixed tothe rear end of the pivot stud ||.4.. Mounted on the upper end of pivotshaft 244 is' an arm 25s` which carries at. its free end an adjustablestop .screw 258. This stop screw is engageable with a stop Vit!! on theadjacent bearing sleeve ||2 and, when in contact therewith, asillustrated in Fig. 8, limits the number movement of the sleeve grippingmembers to thereby prevent those members from engaging each other in thetravel of the carriage when, for example, the roller 246i might beriding free of the cam structure 2id. Thus by manipulation of the stopscrew 258 on each carrier C individual adjustment of the inner positionof the gripping elements at the lower ends of arms IIS and |22 may beeffectedto assure uniform travel of these elements on all of thecarriers.

Referring now to Fig. 8a, it will be observed that a4 link 292 has oneend thereof pivoted at 28d toth `rear face of slide ||il and at itsopposite end is similarly connected to slide |99. This link thusprovides means whereby' the movements of slide |99 up and down rods 4teiects similar motion .of slide HE in accordance with the position ofroller |92 on slide ISG as it travels about the cam structure |94.Assuming' the cam follower |92 of a carriage C is travelling to theright on Fig. 2, the gripping elements will be opened with respect to asleeve on a pair of fingers 69, approximately as indicated in Fig. 7. Assoon as the follower |92 reaches the cam notch or recess |95 thestucture including slides |90 and Hl) will travel downwardly on rods 49a distance such as will enable the top edges of flanges |48 of thegripping means to descend to a plane below the bottom edge of a sleeveas shown in Fig. 9. While roller |92 is still within the notch |96 ofthe cam structure |94, roller 24|twill enter earn notch 225 of camstructure 2li), thereby effecting simultaneous inward motion of thegripping elements to the position in Figs l0 and 10a so that the iiangeportions |48 will be disposed below and within the portions of thesleeve intermediate ngers B9. This motion is eiiected through theswinging of pivot 248 of the bell crank about pivot 244 and the con.-sequent swinging of arm 254 about stud ||4 through the connecting linlr25E. rfhis action results in inward movement of arm H8 about stud ||4through the before mentioned construction and arrangement of theseparts. Since arm IIE is provided with the integral arm |3t thisarm willalso move and through the connecting rod |49 will eiiect similarmovement of arm |38 and thereby impart motionvto arm |22 but in theopposite direction.

Asthe carriage C continues to travel, the roller |92 Vthereon will moveupwardly out of notch |92 of cam structure |94, causing a return orupward movement of slides |99 and H8 and carrying the gripper anges |48upwardly within the sleeve, asshown in Fig. 11.' V'At 'this point,vcompressed air operatesto engagetheplungers |52 with .the interveningportions of .the sleeve Vto thereby pressthese portions of the sleeveinto gripping contact with the flanges 148. The carrier-conf.. tinuestotravel, Aand in so doing the roller Y241| leaves the notch 226 andtravels' about .the arouate section 224, retaining .the parts inposition shown in Fig. 4V11. Eventually the carriage .will arrive atthefront 'of the machine and thecam follower 249 in travelling from' thepart 224 to a position *against the front oi partg2|9 ridesa slightincline 210 which, through themov'ementl of roller 240, causes the'gripping mechanisml to. be separated to the position vindicated .inFig. l2 wherethe flanges |49 have carried 'the lower portion ofthe'sleeve outwardly to the position shown in |20I in which clearancebetween grip ping mechanism and the iingers 59 is effected.' The sleeveis thus gripped and expanded preparatory to` lowering it overa bottleneck to the position shown in Fig. 13.

Continued travel of a carrier C will carry thev roller 249 along theface of cam section'228, wfhile at the same time the roller |92 on thatcarrier; having travelled along the corresponding hor-izontal portion ofcam structure |94 will arrive at and travel downwardly on theinclined'section |98 thereof. This downward travel causes the grippingmechanism to lower a gripped sleeve to the position of i3; When thesleeve has been lowered to its intended position the compressed air isreleased, causing retraction of the plungers |52 to free the sleeve fromthe gripper mechanism. Continued travel of the roller |92 to the lowerend of incline |98'serves to carry' the flanges |48 below the lower edgeof the sleeve. At this time the cam follower 248 'will' engage theincline 232 of cam structure which will cause the arms H6 and |22 toswing about their pivots to carry the iianges |48 outwardly beyond thesleeve for needed clearance during return or upward travel of thegrip-ping devices. During the foregoing retraction of the flanges |48the roller |92 on the carrier will Ytravel across the short .cam section299 to give the nec-V essary dwell for clearance, after which it en'continued travel of the carriage the follower '240' will ride over camportions 23, 229 and' 2|8 55. while returning .to the cam section ortracke2|2 at the rear of machine, It may be noted that the width of camtrack sections 228'and 239`is sufficient to provide contact of roller249 therewith during vertical movement of thev gripping' means'.

While in the foregoing disclosure, the invention has been shown inconnection with mecha# nism for moving the sleeves downwardly and uponcontainers traveling horizontally, the invention may Abe modi'ed withinvthe scope 'of the present invention to 'cause upward movement of thecontainersinto the opened sleeves while such openedsleev'es are heldstationary or are carried horizontally on the carriers. v

What is claimed is: V 1. Ina machine for applying acollapsible band;ling sleeve to a container', the combination with means for holding opena banding sleevaa supe port for holding 'the containers in position to,receive a 'bandin'g'sle'e've' of sets of opposed grippers aeedszsscoacting to positively grip one end of a sleeve held by said means, eachof said grippers having an inner and outer member adapted to grip anintervening end edge of said sleeve, and mechanism for operating saidgrippers to grip said end edge of the sleeve held opened by said meansand move said grippers to position said sleeve over one end of acontainer on said support.

2. In a machine for applying a banding sleeve to a container, thecombination with means for opening a collapsed banding sleeve; of setsoi opposed grippers coaoting to grip one end of a sleeve opened by saidmeans; and mechanism for operating said grippers to grip one end of thesleeve opened by said sleeve-opening means and move said sleeve over oneend of a container; each set of grippers comprising an inner gripperarranged to enter one end of the sleeve opened by said means, andanouter gripper arranged opposite said inner gripper and adapted to enngage the exterior face of `the intervening end of the opened sleeve; andsaid gripper-operating mechanism including members for inserting saidinner grippers into one end of the opened band and devices for movingsaid outer grippers to press against the intervening end of the openedband whereby said end of the band will be gripped between the inner andouter grippers while the opened band is retained on said means.

3. In a machine for applying a banding sieevc to a container, thecombination with means for opening a collapsed banding sleeve, of setslof opposed grippers coacting yto grip one end of sleeve opened by saidmeans, and mechanism for operating said grippers to grip one end ofsleeve opened by said sleeve-opening means and move said sleeve over oneend of a container: each set of grippers including an inner gripperhaving an arcuate shape and arranged to enter one end of the sleeveopened by said means, .and an outer gripper movably mounted to press theintervening end of said band against said inner gripper; and saidgripper-operating mechanism including members for moving said inner andouter grippers outwardly whereby said band will be expanded to apredetermined extent tolfacilitate application thereof to the containerto which said band is to be applied.

4. In a machine for applying a banding sleeve to a container, thecombination with means for opening a collapsed banding sleeve; of setsof opposed grippers coacting to grip one end of a sleeve opened by saidmeans; and mechanism for operating said grippers to grip one end of thesleeve opened by said sleeve-opening means and move said sleeve over oneend of a container; eachset of grippers including an inner gripperhaving an arcuate shape and arranged toenter one end of the sleeveopened by said means, and an outer gripper adapted to press theintervening end said band against saidinner gripper; and said to acontainer, the combination with a support for 1 holding Vthe containersin position to receive a banding sleeve, sets of grippers coaoting topositively grip one end of a banding sleeve internally 10 andexternally; ofmechanism for operating said grippers to grip one end of abanding sleeve, and means to move saidy grippers to expand the grippedsleeve to a predetermined size and shape and then move said sleeve overone end of said container on said support.

6. In a machine for applying a banding sleeve to a container, thecombination with sets of grippers coacting to'grip one end of a bandingsleeve; of mechanism for operating said grippers to grip one end of abanding sleeve, expand the gripped sleeve to a predetermined size andshape, and then move said sleeve over one end of a container; each setof grippers comprising aninner gripper arranged to enter one end of abanding sleeve, and an outer gripper arranged opposite said innergripper and adapted to engage the exterior face of the intervening endof the sleeve; and said gripper-operating mechanism including membersfor inserting said inner grippers into one end of the band and movingsaid outer grippers into a position opposite the inner grippers, and apneumatically operated device for pressing said outer grippers againstthe intervening endr of the band whereby said end of the band will begripped between the inner and outer grippers.

'7.v In a-machine for applying a banding sleeve to a container, thecombination with sets of grippers coacting to grip one end oia bandingsleeve;

of mechanism for operating said'grippers to grip one end of a bandingsleeve, expand the gripped sleeve to a predetermined size and shape, andthen move said sleeve over one end lof a container; each set of grippersincluding an inner gripper having an arcuate shape and arranged to enterone end of the sleeve, an outer gripper movably mounted to press theintervening end 'of v y having a diameter slightly greater than theportion of the container to which said band is to be applied, andinstrumentalities for moving said members downwardly with said grippersand ledges to apply the expanded sleeve to one end of a container.

8. In a machine for applying a banding sleeve to a container, thecombination with a support forvholding the containers in position toreceiveI a banding sleeve, spaced vsets of grippers coactn ing to griptheA edges of one lend of a banding sleeve; each set ot gripperscomprising an inner member and an outer member, the inner memberengaging the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer member engagingthe outer surface oi l said sleeve, of mechanism for operating each ofsaid grippers togrip the intervening edge of one l containers inposition to receive a banding sleeve,

means for supporting an openedV sleeve, setslof pincer -like grippershaving inner and outer mem bers coacting to grip an intervening yedge,ofone end of such opened sleeve between vsaid inner and outer members,and mechanism for effecting gripping `action of said opposed grippers to11 grip Said end of eaid opened 4 sleeve ,and te. move said verinnere teannly Ysaid 4eleeve te @aid enntainei- 1.0., kIna machine for annlvine anenibie haneingeleeveto a Container, aeunpert ier. oldine 'thecontainers in posit-ion to `reeeive a banding sleeve, means v,for-eunnerting 1an-opened Sleeve. -nnnQsed erinnere each having membersmovable toward and away from 4veach"other and .ee-,acting :tenQSitii/ely grasp anintervening end edge .of auch Opened sleeve,.mechanism fer eieetine grinning aetien of eaid erinnere te erin .Saidenen end .Qi Said sleeve, and means ier eieetine Arelative movementbetween Said mechanism and -Said nunport te lnl aee 'said Sleeve intopesitien about a container on said support.

1:1. xIn a machine for applying e. ,banding 'sleeve to a eontainer, theeembinatien with a sunnnrt for holding the containersin position `Vtoreceive a banding sleeve, opposed sets of grRDefS. eael; set beingoperative to grip .an intervening vedge of a banding sleeve and saidsets being mounted Iormovernent toward andaway `fxornqeaelfi ethei` set;of mechanism for Aoperating said grippeifs to grip an edge of abandi-iigsleeve, and comprising adjustable cam means to move saidmovable sets .of grippers avi/a;7 from each other to expand a sleevegrinned thereby te control Ythe extent te which `said erinnere are movedanartand adjust able to vary the predetermined movement of said grippersand movesaid gr-ippers and said sleeveover one end of abontainertonvsaid support.

12. In a machine Vfor applying a `banding sleeve te .eO ntairiei;A aeunnert ier linidlne the een ta ere neef 'en ,te receive a bandingeleeveI a plurality of erinnere, ea n ei `Said erinnere be..- ineadapted to `erin tneinideand .outside 0i int rven'ne end ,edge Qf .a`banding Sleeve; of Ineehan for Operating 4said,erinnere te erin anintervening edge of a banding sleeve, said nlurality of erinnere beingeiireularlyenaeed one `from. tbeother, :and eemprieing adjustable earnmeans tn ,nieve each .of ,Said plurality vof erinnere in a radialdirection toward and awayfrern eachother a predetermined distance ,fer a.predetermined adjustment oi said earn :te expand a banding sleeve heldthereby .to a sneeie predetermined Size te it over .Said .containervvherebr vdifferent sizes of bands and containers may be aecommo dated.

Gnome n. GAME?.

'References enea ,in the me pf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,800,657 Pelletier Apr. 14, 1931 1,835,336 Risser Dee. 1,1931 2,068,107 'N ygard Jan. 19, 1937 2,103,302 Strout Dec. 2 8, y19372,149,377 Winslow Mar. 7, `19,39 2,437,117 Orstrom Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 720,853 France Feb. 25, 1932 661,299Germany, June 16, 1933

